Method of making hardened film blanks and product



UNIT-ED STATES PATENTJ OFFICE METHOD OF MAKING HARDENED FILM BLANKS AND PRODUCT Bertha Sugden Tnttle, Boston, Mass, assignor, by mesne assignments, to Technicolor, Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware No Drawing. Application February 18, 1929 Serial No. 340,647

20 Claims. (CL 91-68) This invention relates to a method of preparing glacial acetic or the usual commercial 50% conhardened film blanks for the reception thereon centration of acid in water or, preferably, a more of images in dye or like coloring materials (espevolatile solution prepared with organic solvents cially from photographic matrix films, by imsuch as alcohol and/or ether. The backing may bibition) and to the blanks obtained by the inthen be allowed to dry appreciably, the volatile 65 ventlon. solvent evaporating preferentially and leaving an n mak s 0 c atographic films for moadsorbed or absorded layer of the acid. This tion pictures, it is common practice to prepare residual acid layer may vary widely without detria photographically developed series of images mental efiect, but approximately .05. to .222 grams 1 in a Sci-called matrix fi which is thereafter per yard of film has been found to give entirely 60 lectively wet by an appropriate dye solution and satisfactory results. The gelatine emulsion coatthen contacted with a blank gelatine film, whereing is then applied (amounting for example to p the Wet y image S t a s r d by m bisome 0.568 grams per yard) and dried. The comtion to the blank. posite gelatine coated film thus obtained is sub- In this imbibitlon' method rinting films, sequently hardened by heat and/or light in ac- 65 the p fic a ct tic 01' the ma cordance with known practices (see co-pending 0f the y Solution, d f h ha den d geletlne application of Francis C. Atwood, Serial No. lank are of maj r imp rtanc and he r a- 105,876, 'filed April 30, 1926), to produce an estiehshille therebetween determine the q y of pecially satisfactory gelatine blank for imbibition the printed image which may be obtained under printing,

a given set or circumstances or conditions. Cont is further foufid t t t partially or q 5, in y eases t P n ed b nk may pletely solidified gelatine coating (whether or not be te y D 0 While in Others. although the backing has been acid treated) may be treateS y good, the results y b unreliable, ed from its exterior surface with the acid solup c a yin e p t of color d nsity and/0r defition with improved though less satisfactory re- 75 nitien) in e p d product. I sults. But if the acid is added to the fluid gela- An object or this invention, therefore, is to t l n i mcient. amount to efiect the Provide Suitable conditions under which 8 desired results, it often causes reticulation or results may be secured consistently and a Suitcrinkllng. or the gelatine coating. On the other 3o able procedure w i s a l be depe for hand, treatment of the backing film or subseso the obtainmentcf good results in Practical appliquent treating of the gelatine coating with the w n A fiuther object is to provide a a acid in gaseous condition is substantially inefiecencd zelatine blank of uniformly good imbibitive to improve the qualities of the blank. tlon characteristics throughout its surface and In the efe red and usual practice of the geladily d'laipillilcatablie ii: lsuccessive t1iilms Cvszsllilen ey are e g ma e arge quan res. er objects will appear from the following disclosure. i f 1 3 i g 12% The method or the invention comprises broadu or so Ions. ewlse may e prepa 1 cordance with various known formulae, but prefiy the discovery that an improved film blank is b m l d th h t t d s 40 obtained it its preparation includes the step of em c u e 058 w 16 con z 1 90 effectively treating the gelatinlzed or partially belongnfg to the group known as e soiidifled'gelatine coating or film (containingapsuch R d propriate hardening agents) with an appreciable 6 concentration oi. a solution of a suitable acid Fast red S. concentrated (3% colloid (typically acetic or citric acid or dilute nitric acid) treated solution) 10,000 c.c. 95

followed by hardening the film through the action Acid magenta B N (6% colloid treator heat or light, or both. I i ed solution) I 4,500"c.c;" In a typical mode of procedure under the in- Metanll yellow 30 grs. vention sa cellulosic backing film may be treated Glacial acetic acid 900 c.c.

vention the matrix film or films are prepared and 50 with a solution of acetic acid, which may be Made up 18,000 c.c. with water 109 [The colloid treatment referred to is disclosed in my copending application Serial No. 82,621- filed January 20, 1926, now Patent No. 1,735,142.]

H iah intensity red Acid magenta (6%colloid treated solution) 4,300 c.c. Fast red S. concentrated (3% colloid treated solution) 6,500 c.c. Anthracene yellowG R pure (adjustable, but approximately of the order of grs.. Wool orange A 100 grs. Glacial acetic acid 800 c.c.

Made up to 18,000 c.c. with water High intensity #1 green Pontacyl green S N extra (4.5% colloid treated solution) 5,800 c. 0. Fast red S concentrated (3.0% colloid treated solution) 3.00 c. c. Metanil yellow-adjustable but approximately of the order of 14 grs. Glacial acetic acid 600 c. c.

Made up to 18,000 0. c. with water For example, in accordance with this invention, the blank surface or film to be printed is preferably prepared by treating or substrating a cellulosic film or backing, such as cellulose acetate, as by passing it quickly through an acid solution. For this purpose, the acid solution may be prepared as follows:

92% alcohol 5% ether 3% glacial acetic acid Preferably the acid wetted film may then be allowed to dry,for example, sufiiciently to remove the greater part or all of the volatile solvent but not to such extent as to entirely remove the acid, as indicated above. If the application of the gelatine coating is not to be effected for some time, the acid solution may advantageously contain a less volatile solvent or a liquid such as glycerine in small amount. In either case an appreciable adsorbed or absorbed layer or deposit of the acid is retained upon the backing when it is subsequently coated with the gelatine emulsion.

The acidified backing film as thus preparedmay be coated with a gelatine emulsion in any convenient way. For this purpose, an emulsion of the following composition may be used:

10 grams soft gelatine 75 c. c. water v '1 grams ammonium dichromate 25 c. c.

This may be prepared by first dissolving the gelatine in water, by heating to a temperature preferably not exceeding F. and adding thereto the already prepared solution of ammonium (or other alkali) dichromate.

The coating of the acidified backing strip or film may be conveniently carried out by simply passing the strip through or into contact with a solidified gelatine film in the presence of a conther by subjecting it to an elevated temperature (e. g. -115 F. for 18-20 hours) or to ultra "violet light, or both, to produce the finished,

hardened gelatine blank.

The thus prepared blank film may now be employed for imbibition printing in the usual way, being brought into intimate face. contact with the dye wetted matrix film (preferably while both films are submerged in water to exclude air bubbles) and retained in such contact until com.- plete or substantially complete transfer of the dye is effected from the matrix film to the blank by imbibition. The surfaces are then separated, the matrix being washed if necessary before re-. use and the blank being allowed to dry. The printed blank may then be again printed with other colors if desired, in like manner, for the production of multicolor films, and-finally dried, when it is'ready for use in motion picture projection.

When applied to the gelatine film in the manner described, the acid absorbed or adsorbed by the surface of the backing not only penetrates and infuses the gelatine coating but facilitates the hardening of the superposed gelatine layer 100 upon being subsequently heated and when used in the amount of concentration designated, also produces an acidified, hardened gelatine film or surface which is especially adapted to receive colored images of acid dyes, with accurate color densities and sharp definition. Moreover, the blanks thus prepared have more uniform characteristics, with respect to the conditions of imbibition printing, than those prepared in other ways and are consequently more'reliable for this purpose, with the result that the printing operations may be more definitely standardized and an improved film obtained with consistent reliability. v

I claim: 1. A method of preparing film blanks for imbibition printing, comprising the steps of forming a film of solidified gelatine emulsion containing a hardening agent, and simultaneously or successively treating said film with a sufficient concentration of an acid solution to effect the acidification and facilitate subsequent uniform penetration of an acid dye therein, and hardening the film by'heat and/or light.

' 2. A method of preparing film blanks for imbibition printing, comprising the steps of forming a film of gelatine emulsion containing a hardening agent, gelatinizing or solidifying the same, and subsequently effecting the hardening of said centration of acid of the order of approximately 5% or more upon the weight of the gelatine.

3. A method of preparing film blanks for imbibition printing, comprising the steps of forming a film of gelatine emulsion containing a hardening agent, geiatinizing or solidifying the same, and subsequently effecting the hardening of said solidified gelatine film in the presence of a concentration of an acid of the order of 5% to 40% upon the weight of the gelatine. 1

.4. A method of preparing film blanks for imbibition printing, comprising the steps of forming a film-of gelatine emulsion containing a hardening agent, gelatinizing or solidifying the same, and subsequently effecting the hardening of said solidified gelatine film, concomitantly with the penetration thereof by an acid.

5. A method of preparing film blanks for imbibition printing. which comprises treating a eelw lulosicbackingsufiacewithanacidapplyinga gelatine coating thereto, infusing said acid into the gelatine coating and hardening the gelatine 8. A method of preparing film blanks for imbibition printing, which comprises treating a cellulosic backing surface with a-volatile acid, applying a gelatine coating thereto, infusing said acid into the gelatine coating and hardening the gelatine coating.

7. A method of preparing film blanks for imbibition printing, which comprises treating a cellulosic backing surface with a solution of an organic acid, removing the solvent of said acid,

applying a gelatine coating thereto, infusing said acid into the gelatine coating and hardening the gelatine coating.

8. A method of preparing film blanks for imbibition printing, which comprises treating a celgo lusoic backing surface with acetic acid, supplying a gelatine coating thereto, infusing said acid into the gelatine coating and hardening the gelatine coating 9. A method of preparing film blanks for imbibition printing, which comprises treating a celiulosic backing surface with an approximately 3% solution of acetic acid, removing the solvent of said solution, applying a gelatine coating to the acidified backing, infusing said acid into the gelatine coating and hardening the gelatine coating.

10. A method of preparing film-blanks for imbibition printing, which comprises treating a cellulosic backing surface with a solution of acetic acid and a more volatile organic solvent, applying a gelatine coating to the acidified backing surface, infusing said acid into the gelatine coating and hardening the gelatine coating.

11. A method of preparing film blanks for imbibition printing. which comprises treating a cellulosic backing surface with a solution containing acetic acid and ether, evaporating the ether, ap-

plying a gelatine coating thereto, and harden-- gelatine coating.

12. A method of preparing film blanks for imand ether, applying a bibition printing, which comprises treating acellulosic backing surface with a solution of acetic acid containing glycerine, applying a gelatine coating thereto. infusing said acid into the gelstihe coating and hardening the gelatine coating.

18. A method of preparing film blanks for imbibition printing, which comprises treating a cel-' lulosic backing surface with a solution of acetic acid, alcohol and ether, evaporating the alcohol gelatine coating thereto, infusing said acid into. the gelatine coating and hardening the gelatine coating.

14. A blank for imbibition printing, comprising a backing, an adsorbed acid layer thereon, and a superposed coating of unhardened gelatine containing a hardening agent.

15. A blank for imbibition printing, comprising a backing, and a gelatine coating having an acid concentration of approximately 5% or more upon the weight of the gelatine:

16. A blank for imbibition printing, comprising a backing, and a gelatine coating having an acid concentration of 5% to 40% or more upon the weight of the gelatine.

17. a blank :0: imbibition printing. comprising a backing, a superposed coating of solidified unhardened gelatine containing a dichromate hardening agent, and an intermediate absorbed layer of acid.

18. A blank for imbibition printing, comprising a backing, a superposedcoating of solidified unhardened gelatine containinga dichromate hardening agent, and an intermediate infused layer of an acid.

19. A blank for imbibition printing, comprising a backing, a superposed coating of unhardened gelatine containing a dichromate, and an intermediate layer of acetic acid and glycerine.

20. A blank for imbibition printing, co

a backing, a supe p sed coating of hardened gela- 5 tine, and an intermediate infused layer of acetic acid extending from the backing surface into and throughout the gelatine coating. I n

' BERTHA BUGDEN 'I'U'I'I'LE. 

